Ready for action

FCB earn top marks in challenging test

Created on 02-08-2013 at 00:00 AM

Bayern are well prepared for the new campaign in many ways, and as of Friday afternoon, that includes their automobiles: the players and coaching staff visited partner Audi in Ingolstadt to take delivery of their new company cars. And transferring the metaphor to the field of play, the Bayern engines are purring nicely in the build-up to Monday’s DFB Cup opener. In winning the Audi Cup, coach Pep Guardiola's men successfully passed what Philipp Lahm described as “a challenging test." Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge liked what he saw: “We're in a state of readiness which means we can approach the season optimistically. We're ready for action."

Head coach Guardiola also declared himself “satisfied" after victories against FC São Paulo on Wednesday and Manchester City on Thursday. “Those were our last pre-season warm-up matches, and it was important to come away with a positive result before we go into the competitive fixtures," said Manuel Neuer. The keeper made an important contribution to FCB winning the tournament with a penalty save and a number of good blocks.